Jaleswari Shrestha, a 76-year-old author and storyteller from Kathmandu, has gained widespread recognition for her literary contributions. Her notable works for children include ‘Pari ko Ghar’, ‘Pinky Ra Putali Haru’, a Braille book for visually impaired students, and anthologies like ‘Lava Ka Baaf Haru’, ‘Maun Bidroha’, ‘Phool Phoolaune Gamala’ and ‘Marriage Anniversary’. She published a novel ‘Niyati Chakra’ in 2012 which focuses on women’s empowerment.
The feminist writer serves as the chairperson of ‘Gunjan Nari Sahitya Sanstha’ and is actively engaged in literary initiatives and programs. She was awarded the ‘Nawaranga Sahitya Bisesh Kadar’ in 2003, ‘Bal Sahitya Pratisthan Samman’ in 2006, ‘International Shaan Award’ in 2010, and ‘Bishwa Nari Nepali Sahitya Padak’ in 2014 among others. In an interview with Babita Shrestha from ApEx, the author spoke about her literary journey and the books she has written.
Can you tell us about your writing journey?
My journey as a writer began with a deep love for reading. I read Mahabharata and Ramayana which later helped me express myself through writing, initially in Nepal Bhasa. Despite being a full-time homemaker after marriage, I later found solace in writing. I used to publish them in newspapers.
Growing up, I saw a lot of gender bias, polygamy, and women being suppressed. Even the educational opportunities were different for boys and girls. It got to me and every time I spoke up about it, I was told to keep quiet. There were moments when I wished I was born a boy just so I didn’t have to face those challenges. Then, my children needed their father’s permit for something in Darjeeling. But my husband was out of the country. My authorization letter was rejected. An uncle had to step in. That hit hard because I was restricted from doing a simple motherly duty. Later, that frustration found its way into my debut book, ‘Lava Ka Baff Haru. It has 21 stories and was published in 2001.
Since then, I’ve been on this writing journey, putting together story collections, children’s books, and novels. My writing is all about sharing my experiences and shedding light on social issues, especially those related to gender and family dynamics.
What compelled you to tell the kind of stories you do?
I ended up writing the kind of stories I do because back in the day, the idea of women leading independent lives in our conventional society was a far-fetched dream. Polygamy was the norm, and divorces weren’t as common as they are now. But for widowed women, life was a whole different struggle. And let’s not even get started on the unfair consequences women had to face even when they were victims of violence.
The whole gender bias and the patriarchal setup used to drive me crazy, and I needed an outlet. So, I started pouring all those emotions and my take on these issues into my stories. It’s like a reflection of the three generations I’ve seen—me, my daughter, and now my granddaughters. The fight against gender discrimination is still on and I feel this strong urge to bring those harsh realities to light, which is what I’m currently working on. There’s also the joy of writing about nature and creating children’s stories. It’s my way of exploring different aspects of life and bringing some diversity into my writing.
How do you write a story? Where do you find the inspiration from?
When I’m working on characters that people can connect with, I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve. Women in Nepal are driven by a patriarchal mindset and that’s something I often delve into in my stories. Take ‘Phool Phoolaune Gamala Haru’ for instance. It’s about discrimination and nature. I have compared our life to the life of plants. Writing is about finding relatable angles.
In ‘Niyati Chakra’ I’ve dug into the wild side of women, exploring freedom and shining a light on the harsh realities we face. I’m all about empowering women through my writing. When I’m sketching out characters and weaving the plot, it’s a mix of digging into my memories and throwing in a splash of imagination to make sure the storyline does justice to reality.
What are the challenges of being a writer and how do you overcome them?
There were many hurdles. But the support I got kept me going. When I decided to dive into more explicit themes in ‘Lava Ka Baff Haru’ with all those complex love affairs and relationships, my sister and friends were genuinely worried for me. They thought I might be stirring up too much trouble. But my husband was my rock through it all and he had my back.
Despite the raised eyebrows and concerns, I still published the book. I was on a mission to shake up that patriarchal and male chauvinist mindset. I wasn’t going to back down. Surprisingly, I got a lot of praise for how I delved into the inner workings of a woman’s heart. I consider it to be my first step in making people have an open mind about sexuality and gender equality.
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
You must approach writing with dedication and a sense of responsibility. Don’t allow others’ opinions to hinder your imagination. Writing should feel unrestricted and effortless, like a conversation. So don’t hesitate to express your creativity freely. Don’t be scared of people judging you and enjoy sharing your stories.
